Police investigate online housing scam

Scammer collects rent deposit for home he doesn't own

Police are looking for the man who said he was renting a home in New Orleans East and took security deposits from multiple people.

Police investigate online housing scam

Scammer collects rent deposit for home he doesn't own

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Updated: 11:18 PM CDT Aug 11, 2013

NEW ORLEANS —

Police are looking for a Craigslist scammer who conned several people with a fake ad listing an East New Orleans home for rent.

Authorities said one women paid a $1,000 security deposit on the house before learning it wasn't for rent, but for sale.

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Investigators said they believe the person responsible scammed at least four people with the fake ad that was posted July 27.

A woman told police she responded to the ad about a house for lease at 6200 Morrison Road. She called the number on the listing and spoke to a man claiming to be a real estate agent for the property.

Jerome Winder, who works for Gardner Realtors, is the real listing agent for the property. A female victim contacted him trying to ask questions about the house.

"She gave me the property address, and immediately I told her, 'Ma'am this is a bank-owned property, and it's not for lease,'" Winder said.

Things became more concerning when the victim said she had already been inside to view the home.

"He had removed my yard signs from the yard, and she said she went through the house. I said, 'How did you get in?' She said, 'The door was open, and we just walked in,'" Winder said.

Police said the man told the would-be-renter the house would be unlocked, so she could take a look inside.

Winder said the man was able to gain entry into the house through a rear window and unlocked the front door from inside. He also believes the man stole the air conditioner behind a gated area on the side of the home.

After the victim walked through the home, officials said she called the fake real estate agent back and said she was interested in renting the house.

Authorities said the man then told the woman to meet him at a store to give him cash for a security deposit. They said she did that, and then the man told her to meet at the house the next day, but the suspect never showed up.

The victim called the real estate agency listed in the original ad and discovered that the name the man was using belonged to an employee there, but it wasn't the person who took her money.

Winder said it's not the first time one of his properties has been posted to Craigslist to prey on renters and steal their money.

"Craigslist, even though they have some good leads on there, a lot of people are using it for scamming," Winder said. "I've had several of my properties that are for sale, and some kind of way, they get the information off the Realtor's websites and put them on Craigslist like they own the house."

Winder has been a Realtor for 28 years and advises renters to ask more questions than usual when conducting business on sites like Craigslist. He advised asking the owner for proof of ownership and contacting the real estate agency to confirm the property is for rent.

Anyone who has fallen victim to a scam attempt, there are a several agencies that can be contacted, including the Internet Fraud Complaint Center and the Federal Trade Commission.

Also, there are some steps that can be taken to avoid scams on Craigslist. The site advises people deal locally with those they can meet in person and never wire funds. Also, people shouldn't rent housing without seeing the interior or purchase expensive items without seeing them first.

Do not submit to credit or background checks for a job or for housing until meeting the interviewer or agent in person.